Sony A7 II vs Sony A77: A Thorough Face-Off from an Experienced Shooter’s Viewpoint

When Sony’s A7 II hit the market in late 2014, it turned heads as a full-frame mirrorless that punched well above its weight. Meanwhile, the A77 - a mid-size DSLR-style SLT (Single Lens Translucent) from 2011 - was a workhorse packed with features ahead of its time but had a very different DNA and target audience. Both cameras come from Sony’s pro-grade pedigree but cater to distinct user needs and tastes.

Having put thousands of shots through each body, I’m here to help you figure out which camera deserves a place in your photography bag - whether you’re a portrait artist, landscape adventurer, wildlife chaser, or budget-conscious enthusiast. Ready to get knee-deep into sensor tech, autofocus wizardry, and the nitty-gritty of daily use? Let’s dive in.

Size, Ergonomics & Handling: The Feel of Your Tool

One of the first things any shooter notices is how the camera fits in the hands and flows during a shoot. In that respect, the A77 and A7 II couldn’t be more different.

The A77 is a traditional DSLR-style body with a robust mid-size frame, measuring 143×104×81 mm and weighing around 732 grams. It has the sort of grip that rewards large palms and clubs for thumbs; Sony put effort into a contoured shape and a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen. This articulating screen is a boon for awkward angles and video shooters (more on that later). The body feels solid and well-built, with weather-resistant sealing that inspires confidence out in the field.

By contrast, the A7 II sports the smaller, sleeker full-frame mirrorless form factor - 127×96×60 mm and weighs 599 grams. It’s noticeably more compact and lighter, which benefits travel and street shooters tired of lugging DSLR bulk. While the A7 II’s screen is tilting only rather than fully articulated, it maintains a respectable 3-inch size with decent resolution. The body shape is designed for balance and pocketability rather than a huge grip.

In terms of raw handling kinetics, some users might miss the heft and traditional button layout of the A77, but those who prefer minimalist, mirrorless ergonomics with streamlined menus will find the A7 II refreshing.

Look closely at the top decks - the A77 features dedicated dials and a top LCD for quick shooting mode checks, supports assignable buttons, and a traditional mode dial. The A7 II trims that back to essentials, prioritizing a modular control layout that rewards experimenters who map controls to their shooting style.

My take: If you prize traditional DSLR familiarity and enjoy lots of physical controls under your thumbs, the A77 is a keeper. For photographers craving travel-friendly compactness with a sleek profile, the A7 II is a more modern and pocket-friendly companion.

Sensor & Image Quality: Where Form Meets Function

Now to the heart of the matter - image performance. Sensor technology is Sony’s bread and butter, and these two cameras showcase different eras and philosophies.

The A7 II wields a full-frame 35.8x23.9 mm BSI CMOS sensor with a native resolution of 24MP. Thanks to its larger sensor footprint and back-illuminated design, it captures more light and detail per shot than the A77’s APS-C sensor (23.5x15.6 mm, also 24MP but without BSI). I’ve tested both sensors under controlled studio lighting and challenging daylight scenes - the dynamic range on the A7 II clocks in at 13.6 stops versus the A77’s 13.2, but the noise handling at high ISO is where the full-frame sensor truly shines.

The A7 II’s native ISO range spans 100 to 25600 (expandable to 50–51200), while the A77 tops out technically at 16000 ISO (expandable to 25600). Practically speaking, images from the A7 II remain clean and usable at ISO 3200 and above, whereas the A77 images start showing more noise from 1600 to 3200 ISO upwards.

Color depth is slightly better on the A7 II (24.9 bits vs. 24.0 bits), lending skin tones and nature shots a bit more nuance. This makes the A7 II notably superior for portraits and landscape photography where gradation matters.

That said, the A77’s APS-C sensor offers a 1.5x crop factor - a potential boon for wildlife and sports shooters who want "extra reach" without swapping lenses.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy & Tracking

Sony’s autofocus systems have evolved dramatically over the years, and the comparison here highlights the progress made.

The A77 uses a hybrid phase-detect AF system with 19 focus points (11 cross-type), combining the translucent mirror design with traditional tracking algorithms. The limitation? While continuous autofocus is present, it doesn’t support advanced tracking modes or eye-detection AF. Face detection is supported, but it’s not as snappy or reliable in tricky lighting. Many professionals will find it accurate but slightly lagging when chasing fast-moving subjects.

The A7 II boasts a more sophisticated 117-point hybrid AF system with 5-axis sensor-based image stabilization, phase-detect AF covering roughly 60% of the frame, and better eye detection. While not as utterly groundbreaking as its A7 III successor, the A7 II delivers more confident autofocus in varying conditions - from portraits to sports settings. The sensor shift stabilization adds a welcome advantage for telephoto and macro shooters, too.

In field tests, I found the A7 II’s AF to be significantly faster locking and better tracking running kids or wildlife in motion. The A77 can still volley off high frame rates (12 fps vs 5 fps on A7 II), but those frames can be a gamble if the focus drags.

Bottom line: If decisive focus speed and tracking are your priorities, the A7 II gets the nod. The A77 remains viable for still life and slower subjects but feels dated by comparison.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ready for Real Life

Both cameras claim some weather sealing, but neither are fully waterproof or dustproof.

The A77’s larger DSLR chassis with more robust weather-resistant seals makes it slightly better equipped for challenging environments like hiking or rain-prone shoots.

The A7 II has mild sealing but its more compact mirrorless body and newer design help mitigate some environmental issues. However, given its smaller size, it can feel more delicate and fragile in rough conditions.

From personal experience lugging the A7 II into dusty deserts and moody mountain trails, I recommend caution and protective covers, while the A77 tolerates abuse a tad better.

Viewing Experience: LCDs and Viewfinders Compared

Viewing and composing are core activities, so let’s discuss the displays and electronic viewfinders.

The A77 sports a 3-inch fully articulated LCD with 921k resolution - a great tool for vloggers and shooters who need variable viewing angles, especially for low/high-angle compositions.

The A7 II's 3-inch tilting screen has a slightly higher resolution (1230k), but lacks full articulation, which limits certain shooting angles. It still performs excellently thanks to Sony’s clear color reproduction.

Both cameras use electronic viewfinders at 2359k resolution and 100% coverage - the A77 offers a slight magnification edge (0.73x vs 0.71x). The EVFs are crisp and low-latency on both, but the A7 II’s viewfinder delivers a cleaner, more natural color preview, owing to better processing.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: What Glass Will You Use?

Lens choice is vital. The A77 uses the older Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount (A-mount) with more than 140 lenses available, especially through third-party options. This is a boon if you own legacy lenses from the Minolta era or want access to pro-grade DSLR optics.

The A7 II uses Sony’s newer E-mount, designed for mirrorless with adapters available to use A-mount lenses as well. The mirrorless mount has exploded in popularity - Sony offers 121 native glass options, plus tons of quality third-party primes and zooms highly optimized for full-frame performance.

If you’re stepping into mirrorless land, the A7 II’s lens ecosystem is more future-proof, whereas the A77 offers legacy compatibility that might appeal to Minolta veterans or pros heavily invested in A-mount glass.

Battery Life and Storage

The A77 serves up an impressive 470 shots per battery charge, courtesy of the larger NP-FM500H battery - a DSLR advantage.

The A7 II’s smaller NP-FW50 battery delivers around 350 shots per charge, lower but typical for mirrorless systems with power-hungry sensors and EVFs. Fortunately, rapid USB charging and external battery packs mitigate this somewhat.

Both cameras accept SD cards and Sony’s memory sticks (though memory sticks are largely legacy). Only one card slot exists on each camera, limiting redundancy options for professionals who want backup recording.

Connectivity & Software Functions

The A7 II benefits from built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy image transfer and remote control - practical for quick social uploads or tethering in the field. The A77 predates these features but supports Eye-Fi cards and has built-in GPS, handy for geotagging location data automatically.

Sony’s imaging apps and desktop software support RAW files from both cameras, with the A7 II offering slightly newer codec support including XAVC S for video.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills - How Do They Compare?

Both cameras max out at full HD 1080p recording.

The A77 shoots 1080p at up to 60fps, supporting AVCHD, MPEG-4, and H.264 codecs, with a built-in pop-up flash and headphone jack for audio monitoring. The fully articulating screen adds utility for video creators.

The A7 II also records 1080p at 60fps using MPEG-4 and the newer XAVC S format, which provides better compression and quality. It adds 5-axis in-body image stabilization (a video game-changer) and microphone/headphone ports for audio control.

No 4K on either - the A7 II’s successor fixes that - but for casual or semi-pro video, the A7 II’s video toolkit is clearly superior.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let me break down how these cameras perform in different genres based on my testing and shooting experience:

Sony A7 II front Sony A7 II screen back Sony A77 front Sony A77 screen back

When scrutinizing side-by-side JPEG and RAW outputs, the A7 II produces richer shadows and highlights with less noise at high ISO, providing cleaner details especially visible in portraits and landscapes. The A77 can still hold its own, but the gap becomes obvious under challenging shooting conditions.

Overall Performance and Value Assessment

To encapsulate overall performance, here’s a thumb-up scorecard from trusted industry benchmarks and my user experience:

Not surprisingly, the A7 II outperforms the A77 across several important metrics: image quality, autofocus, and video capability. It scores well above the A77's more dated sensor and AF tech.

Further breaking it down by photography types:

While the A77 shines in fast continuous shooting and shoots a respectable video for its age, the A7 II’s modern full-frame sensor and 5-axis stabilization put it on a different performance tier overall.

Pros and Cons Recap

Sony A7 II Pros:

• Excellent full-frame image quality with 24MP BSI CMOS sensor
• 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization for sharper handheld shots
• Superior performance in low-light and high ISO settings
• Robust hybrid 117-point autofocus system
• Compact, lightweight mirrorless design - easy to carry all day
• Modern connectivity with Wi-Fi, NFC, mic/headphone jacks
• Good video codec support and in-body stabilization

Cons:

• Single card slot could be limiting for pros
• Battery life is average; needs spares for longer sessions
• Screen tilts but lacks full articulation

Sony A77 Pros:

• Rugged DSLR-style body with weather sealing
• Fully articulated 3-inch LCD screen perfect for video and street shooting
• High burst rate (up to 12 fps) for action photography
• Built-in flash with advanced modes including high-speed sync
• Longer battery life (approx. 470 shots)
• Built-in GPS for geo-tagging
• Vast lens compatibility with legacy A-mount lenses

Cons:

• APS-C sensor with modest dynamic range and noise performance
• Autofocus less advanced; lacks eye detection and sophisticated tracking
• Bulkier, heavier – less travel-friendly
• No modern wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi or NFC
• Video capabilities dated, no headphone monitoring

Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Choose?

If you crave the highest image quality, modern AF performance, and a compact form factor that won’t weigh down your travels or street sessions, the Sony A7 II is the clear winner - especially if you don’t mind juggling faster battery cycle changes and investing in a quality E-mount lens system.

The A77, however, holds value as a budget-friendly option for photographers who want a rugged DSLR feel, plenty of control dials, and high frame rates for sports or action shootouts, all without breaking the bank. It also suits photographers invested in Sony A-mount glass or needing built-in GPS tagging.

Recommendations by User Type:

• Portrait and Wedding Photographers: A7 II for stellar full-frame skin tones and background blur.
• Landscape & Travel Shooters: A7 II for dynamic range and lightweight portability.
• Wildlife and Sports Enthusiasts on a Budget: A77 thanks to high burst rate and reach from APS-C crop.
• Video Content Creators: A7 II’s in-body stabilization and audio ports win hands-down.
• Street Photographers: A7 II for stealth; A77 if you want an articulated screen and flash.

Wrapping Up

Both Sony cameras reflect their generation’s design philosophy and user needs, but the A7 II’s advanced technology and image quality make it a more versatile and future-ready choice. Still, the A77’s durability, fast shooting, and unique features give it a second life for certain users, especially on tighter budgets.

Whichever you pick, your best lens and good light will always be your greatest photography partner - but I hope this comparison helps clear the fog and points you in the right direction.

Happy shooting!

If you have any questions or want real-world usage tips for either camera, drop me a line anytime - I’ve walked miles in both these bodies and love sharing what I’ve learned.

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